Team mourns semi-pro football player killed in Hingham crash

Kevin Graden enjoyed playing the underdog, said Steve Santacroce, owner of the South Shore Chiefs semi-pro football team.

On the football field, Graden was an undersized lineman, listed at 5 feet, 10 inches and 160 pounds, going up against linemen who weighed twice as much, said team head coach Jim Ewell.

“He enjoyed lining up against bigger people and showing them how tough he was,” Ewell said. “He really enjoyed what he did and worked very hard at it.”

Patrick McKunes said Graden helped persuade him to join the team this year despite the fact the Chiefs didn’t win a game during their first two seasons. The fact that Graden stuck it out for both those seasons impressed McKunes,

“It takes a lot of heart to stick it out with a team that lost so much,” McKunes said Sunday. “You have to give a lot respect to guys like that.”

Graden, 31, died early Sunday after he lost control of his 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Route 3 northbound north of the Derby Street exit.

State Police said the vehicle rolled over in the single-vehicle crash at about 1:21 a.m. Graden was the only person in the vehicle.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by State Police attached to the Norwell barracks, along with the department’s collision analysis reconstruction section and crime scene services. The Hingham police and fire department, state medical examiner’s office and MassDOT also assisted at the scene.

The Chiefs posted a tribute to Graden on its Facebook page Sunday.

“Kevin understood the importance of team on the field and the importance of brotherhood off it,” it read.

Santacroce said the team will retire Graden’s number 65 and pay tribute to him at an upcoming game.

“The team would not be here if it wasn’t for his contributions,” Santacroce said. “Losing someone like Kevin is like losing a best friend. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t love him.”

Ewell fielded calls Sunday from players shocked by the death of the teammate they called “Skittles.”

“It’s really emotional,” Ewell said. “He’s a big part of our team.”

Bill Stella, a player and general manager of the South Shore Chiefs, said Graden was heading to his Braintree home when the accident took place. Graden rode with Stella to Raymond, N.H., for a game Saturday against New England Football League opponent the Granite State Destroyers. After the Chiefs’ first-ever victory a week earlier, the Chiefs lost to Granite State 17-7 on Saturday.

Stella said Graden knew he wouldn’t get much playing time in the game because he had missed both of the team’s practices this week because of his job as an electrician. Graden did get into the game for a few special-teams plays, Stella said.

Graden handled fundraising for the team last season, Stella said.

Graden grew up in Norwell and graduated from Norwell High School in 2001.

McKunes said Graden was always encouraging his teammates, something he will always remember.

“Every time I put on my uniform from here on in, it is in honor of him,” McKunes said.